"After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, order these stones to turn into bread.” But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’” (Matthew 4:2-4)
As the Church comes to the end of the third week of Lent 2022, Catholic Front leads us to a reflection on fasting and abstinence - which make up one of the three main practices of this season of Mercy. This post examines the reasons for fasting and abstinence, and gives you a better understanding of these two practices. There you'll get to know how fasting and abstinence enhance prayers and sacrifices - the other two pillars of the lentern tradition. Finally you'll know why and how fasting and abstinence profit you to fulfill your life and vocation as a Christian. Follow me: "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8 :32).
1. MOTIVATION
"Jesus answered, “Do you expect the guests at a wedding party to be sad as long as the bridegroom is with them? Of course not! But the day will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast." (Matthew 9:15)
What are fasting and abstinence? To fast is to abstain from eating any food, or some kinds of food - for example meat, during a given period of time. Dry fasting is when the subject, at the same time, also abstains from drinking water or any other drink. Abstinence, in itself, is the practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something that gives bodily pleasure - especially, alcohol and sex - either permanently or for a certain period of time.
There are several reasons why different people may fast: some fast to lose body weight, some fast to defend their cause, some fast to protest against something (this is actually called hunger strike), some fast as penance and to ask for God's mercy and some fast to devote and dedicate themselves to God.
This post is concerned with fasting and abstinence as religious practices, which have as purpose to establish or deepen the relationship between the believers and God. Thus, the principal purpose of fasting and abstinence, as a religious observance, is to liberate the believer from the captivity of the flesh and of the world, to allow them take the spiritual journey to the encounter of Christ Jesus, by comtemplation, meditation, prayer and sacrifice.
2. REQUIREMENTS
"The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives". (Isaiah 58:6-7)
Following the lentern practice in the holy Catholic Church, fasting and abstinence are compulsory for all Christians on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. For the rest of the season their observance is left at the descretion of the individuals - but many of the believers do practice, strict fasting and abstinence on their own, and not only during Lent but at other times of their choices.
However, as the scripture says, in order for fasting and abstinence to fulfill its purpose of leading the believers to the encounter of God, they must be (1) done in total descretion and (2) backed by the active expression of the love of God for others. So true fasting and abstinence are accomplished together with the love and forgiveness of others, and with justice and charity. (Isaiah 58:6-7).
 |
ALL I NEED IS GOD |
3. DETACHMENT
"Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father. Everything that belongs to the world - what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of - none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world." (1 John 2:15-16)
By turning their back on food or drinks, and depriving their body of the, usually, most cherished pleasures, the believer starts an exciting spiritual journey to a more perfect and deeper encounter with Christ. In this journey you begin to see and appreciate the eternal treasures of the life of God. And so the things of the world and all the valuables that people cling on to, become so less important to them. The end is the glorious encounter with Christ from whom light, peace and joy come to empower and fulfill the believer - no matter what the conditions of the world are.
4. MORTIFICATION
"For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do." (Galatians 5:17)
The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is evident in the life of everyone. Even though the conscience is always there to judge our thoughts and actions, many people have totally resigned to the domination of the flesh - and so they live "comfortably" in their sins. You may name them: sexual immorality, sexual perversity, idolatry, witchcraft, occultism, anger, jealousy, envy, hate, drunkenness, evil ambition, and all such things like these (Galatians 5:19-21).
On the other hand, there are people who by the promptings of their consciences are actually struggling to live righteous lives. To do this they need the Holy Spirit as their Helper to conquer the passions of the flesh in them. So the scripture says:
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives." (Galatians 5:24-25)
To this end the practice of fasting and abstinence helps the believer to mortify their flesh so that the Holy Spirit may have control over their passions, desires and behaviors. The Holy Spirit takes possession of the body, dominion over the flesh and empowers the believer through their meditation of the Word of God (John 6:63) and invocation of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
5. SELF-SACRIFICE
"So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer." (Romans 12:1)
Fasting and abstinence for the purpose of repentance, meditation and prayer, is a perfect way of setting apart onself for dedication to God. It is like saying to God,"You are all I need; Lord, give me your grace - your love, your life, and your peace". The dedication of the believers to God also leads to their consecration by the Holy Spirit, as they come to God in meditation, confession and prayer.
6. CHARITY
 |
YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP US TO UPGRADE THIS BLOGSITE AND TO SUPPORT OUR WORK |
"Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God." (Hebrews 13:16).
The food, drinks and other provisions that the believer forgoes during fasting, or their monetary values, are not meant to be stored away for consumption after the exercise. Rather they are meant to be accumulated and applied to charity. This makes your fasting and abstinence complete and perfect, as a sacrifice to God. Then you reap the reward in grace.
7. SELF-CONTROL
"For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)
After your dedication and consecration through fasting and abstinence, you are no longer conditioned by the conditions of the world or the passions of the flesh. You are able, by the grace of God, to resist the gravity of the crowds and to overcome the temptations of the Devil. Thus by the anointing of the Holy Spirit you become the master of your body, the maker of your decisions, and the controller of your actions - as you live your life for the glory of God.
8. SANCTIFICATION
"May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being - spirit, soul, and body - free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
The finality of fasting and abstinence as religious practices is the sanctification or making holy of the human being. The spiritual journey moving from sinfulness to holiness, passing through repentance, mortification and sacrifice, is truly the restoration of the faithful to the likeness of God in which they were created. (Genesis 1:26).
Therefore, true fasting and abstinence, would bear the fruits of holiness in the life of the believer. These fruits include: fraternal love, peace, patience, kindness, joy, goodness, humility, faithfulness, forgiveness and self-control. These are manifestations of divine graces - and as it is written: "There is no law against such things as these" (Galatians 5:22-23)
9. FULFILLMENT
"For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do." (1 Peter 2:15).
Now, when you are a devout Christian the people of the world would criticize, mock and condemn you for living the way you live. Yet you do not have to answer anyone for, truly, they do not know what they are doing. But when the way you live and the things that you do, begin to relay divine favors, the silence of your detractors would be inevitable.
Evidently, fasting and abstinence - done with prayers and sacrifice - have helped many believers to obtain great favors from God - in the fulfillment of spiritual, physical, material or social needs in life. The testimonies include, professional, vocational and business fulfillments; the fulfillment of marital and parental duties; the fulfillment of wishes to stop stubborn sins like fornication, anger and envy, and harmful habits like smoking and alcoholism.
The ultimate ones are the attainment of personal joy, peace and stability in life, and the fulfillment of intimate and eternal relationships with God. These fulfillments of the believers' life plans, projects, wishes and vocations, in the glorious plan of God for them, are in deed, only the work of the Holy Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6-7).
May your fasting, abstinence, prayer and sacrifice - in this lentern season - take you thousands of spiritual miles to the glorious presence of God to receive his graces and blessings for a fulfilled life in Christ; Amen.
Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT & the CATHOLIC FRONT LINE COMMUNITY™ Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com
Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2022) All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment